Interests

As time has gone by, the view of game sequels has changed. It used to be back in the day that almost all sequels were superior in every way to the games before them. Gradually, this has changed to the point where it's not a given that the sequel will be better, but there is still that sense that everything evolves. For some games, though, I feel that the second game took a step in a direction I didn't agree with, and I still prefer the original that started everything.
I'd be interested in reading what games other people might bring up (Super Mario Kart? Bayonetta?), but my choice is
Super Smash Bros. (N64)
The Smash Bros. series has become a viable, respectable fighting game franchise in its own right, but I feel that something was lost when it retooled everything for Melee and subsequent sequels. The fact that the game relies as much as it does on nostalgia for the characters, arenas, and items plays a part, but not significantly. The huge roster of characters is also not a factor. It's probably just me, but I feel that the feel and atmosphere of the series changed from Melee onwards, and it has lost me.
The characters feel different. The fighting system has become much deeper and complex. The frame rate is much better. Sure, I can now see that the original was broken in many ways, but I miss the more primitive, sumo-like feel of the original, slower and more decisive. I also miss the conceit, where it wasn't about figures and trophies, but simply about a child playing with their Nintendo dolls on their desk or bed.
Smash Bros. is a series I can respect, but never really enjoy.